Aerial bomb



F. L. MORGAN AERIAL BOMB. APPLICATION man AuG.3I. 1911,.

Patented Nov. 18,1919.

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FRANCIS L. IVIORGAN, OF OLDS, IOWA.

AERIAL BOMB.

Application filed August 31, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, FRANCIS L. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Olds, Henry county, lowa, have invented a new and useful Aerial Bomb, of which the following is a specification.

IThe object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for bombs adapted to be carried by and dropped from aircraft.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for bombs adapted to be dropped from aircraft and exploded selectively at predetermined distances above the earths surface or beneath the surface of bodies of water.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for exploding an aerial bomb at a predetermined distance beneath the surface of a body of water.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for exploding an aerial bomb at a predetermined distance above the surface of the earth.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for guiding and insuring direct downward flight of an aerial bomb.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved safety attachment preventing explosion of the bomb prior to its l-aunching.

A further object o-f this invention is to provide improved means for automatically releasing the safety attachment immediately subsequent to launching of the bomb.

My invention consists'in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved bomb in position prior to launching, dotted lines indicating position of the fins during flight. Fig. 2 is a side elevation at right angles to Fig. 1, the suspending devices being removed. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same. Fig. t is an elevation, partly in section, of the lower portion of the device, illustrating also the land-exploding device.

In the construction of the device as shown the numeral 10 designates generally a shell or body which may be of any desired shape but preferably relatively long and slender and somewhat rounded or pointed at its lower end. The shell or body 10 may be Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Serial No. 189,216.

provided with any suitable charge, indicated by the numeral 11 in Fig, 4, adapted to be detonated by the inward movement of a vertically arranged firing pin l2 in the lower end of the body. A yoke 13 is fitted to and encircles the shell or bodylO in a vertical plane, and said yoke is of greatei longitudinal dimension than said shell, being arranged for limited vertical movement in slide bearings 14 carried thereby. A cap l5 is formed on or carried by the lower end of the yoke 13 and covers and is adapted to contact at times with the firing pin 12. The cap 15 preferably is eXteriorly threaded for a purpose hereinafter set forth. A stem 16 is formed on and projects upwardly from the upper end of the yoke 13 and is formed with an. eye 17 at its upper end adapted to receive detachable connection to a suspending wire or cord 18, as by a hook 19. A float 2O is fixed to the upper end of the suspending member 18, and an eye 21 is carried in the top of said float and is adapted to receive attachment of a rope or cord (not shown) by which the device is carried in position for launching, as from any desired type of aircraft. Guide fins 22, 23 are arranged on opposite sides of the body 10, preferably in a plane at right angles to the plane of the yoke 13. Ears 24 are fixed to and project upwardly from the top of the body or shell 10, to which ears the guide fins 22, 23 are pivotally connected near their upper ends. The guide fins 22, 23 are formed at their upper endswith inwardly curved noses 25. A safety collar 26 is fixed to the stem 16 of the yoke 13, and when the devices are in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and in Fig. 1 by solid lines, the noses 25 of the guide fins contactr with and prevent upward movement of the collar 26 and of said yoke, thereby preventing contact of the cap 15 with the firing pin. iVhen the bomb is launched, as by severing the suspending cord secured to the eye 21, contact of the air causes an upward pivotal movement o-f the guide fins, articulating on the pivot-s in the ears 24, to the positions shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, wherein the noses 25 are out of contact with the collar 26. 1n such position a limited upward movement of the collar 26 is permitted, together with the yoke 13 and cap 15, which latter contacts with the firing pin 12 and eX- plodes the bomb/in a common manner. The

guiding iins 22, 23 act as vanes in the Hight of the bomb and cause a direct downward movement to its destination, and steady and guide the device in such Hight. When the bomb is dropped upon a body of water the shell 10 enters the water and passes therethrough a distance determined by the length of the suspending member 18, which.. may be adjusted as desired; when the float 20 strikes the surface of the water the downward flight of the device is arrested, thus causing an upward jerking motion on the suspending device 18 which is communicated to the yoke 13, thus causing an impact of the cap 15 with the iiring pin 12 and effecting a detonation of the bomb beneath the surface of the water. When it is desired to employ the device to strike upon land or other solid object a pipe or rod 27 may be employed, being adapted for detachable connection to the threaded cap 15 by a union 28. The pipe or rod 27 may be of any desired length and is designed, depending beneath the shell 10, to strike a solid object and effect detonation of the bomb by causing impact of the cap 15 with the firing pin, such detonation occurring at a distance above the object struck determined by the length of the pipe or rod.

Prior to launching of the bomb safety is insured by holding contact of the noses 25 of the fins 22, 23 with the collar 26, thus preventing upward movement of the yoke and impact of the cap with the firing pin. Such holding Contact is automatically released shortly after launching of the device -by the lifting movement of the air on the fins. The cap 15 covers the firing pin and protects `against contact and discharge eX- cept through the means provided for that purpose.

T0 provide a ready means of adjusting the length of the flexible suspending member 18, I have mounted a reel shaft 29 in a recess in the central portion of the float 20, said shaft being rotatable in any desired manner. rlChe cord or wire 18 may be wound on the shaft 29 to the desired extent. A ratchet wheel 30 is formed on the reel of which the shaft 29 is a part, and be engaged by a pawl 31 pivoted in the float, to maintain the adjustment of the members.

The fins or vanes 22, 23 preferably are T- shaped in cross-section, with their head portions arranged outwardly or away from the body or shell 10 when they are in lowered position. This shape renders the guiding lins more effective in preventing deflection of the bomb in any direction away from the vertical.

I claim as my invention- 1. A device of the class described, comprising a shell containing a suitable charge and provided with a firing device, a member arranged for vertical movement to contact with said device, a float, suspending means connecting` said member to said float, said member being formed with a projecting collar, and guiding fins pivoted on said shell and having curved noses adapted in one position to engage said collar and hold said member out of Contact with said firing device.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a shell containing a suitable charge and provided with a firing device, a yoke slidiably mounted vertically on said shell and adapted to contact said firing device, a contact member connected with said yoke, and ns vertically arranged on said shell and pivoted on a horizontal axis thereto, said tins being adapted when inlowered position to hold said yoke against contact with. said firing device and being movable by contact with the air to releasing position.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a shell containing a suitable charge and provided with a firing pin in its lower end, a yoke vertically arranged and slidable on said shell to contact with said pin, a float, suspending means connecting said yoke to said float, said yoke 'being formed with a projecting collar, and guiding iins vertically farranged and pivoted on said shell, said fins being formed with curved noses adapted to Contact with said collar and hold the yoke against impact with said pin at times.

FRANCIS L. MORGAN. 

